Thai Fruits

One of the delights of visiting a tropical climate is trying the fresh tropical
fruits. Many of these fruits do not make it to western markets because they
do not travel well enough. Most of the fruits that do appear in western markets
will not retain the freshness they have at their point of origin. Not to mention
the huge difference in price with many of these fruits considered luxury items
in the west.

Everybody knows bananas, pineapples, coconuts, etc but this is just the tip
of the iceberg. There is a huge range of fruits available in Thailand. Some
are native to Thailand and some have been introduced from other tropical regions
and are now grown locally. The fruits available vary by season. Some fruits
are available all year round; some have a peak season while others are only
available a few months a year. Thais often look forward to the arrival of
their favourite fruit. Prices vary depending on the season and quality of
the fruit.

Mangosteen (Thai Name: Mangkoot)

Season:
Peak May to September

In season price range:
20-50 baht per kilo

Sometimes called the Queen of Thai fruit, these are a real treat. Select
fruit that are slightly soft when you squeeze them. A firm squeeze cracks
open the fruit casing revealing the delicious sweet white fruit. The fruit
is split into segments some of which have small stones.

Durian (Toorian)

Season:
Peak May to August

In season price range:
20-60 baht per kilo

This is the King of Thai fruit. This distinctive fruit can grow up to 5kgs
and has a spiky green to brown casing. It is renowned for its strong musty
aroma which often discourages people from even trying it. If you can overcome
your reaction to the smell then the golden flesh is smooth, creamy and distinctive.
The Thais love them but they are an acquired taste.

You can buy the fruit ready peeled or you will need a knife to cut the casing
and then prise it open.

Sweet Tamarind (Makarm)

Season:
Peak September to November

In season price range:
80-120 baht per kilo

This is another signature fruit of Thailand. It is a sweet version of a fruit
that is usually sour and used to flavour savoury dishes or make preserves.
The sweet version grows all over Thailand and can be eaten fresh. They grow
on trees and come in long pods between two and six inches long. Crack the
pods open and pull away the viney strands that may be around the fruit. The
fruit is long, sticky, and dark and contains some inedible seeds. It is sweet
with a texture like soft raisins.

Papaya (Malagor)

Season:
All year round

In season price range:
10-50 baht per kilo

This long, oblong fruit was imported to Asia from Mexico over 400 years ago.
When they are still green and sour, they are used as the prime ingredient
of the popular Thai dish som-tam. The green papaya is cut into thin strips
and then beat in a mortar and pestle with other ingredients such as limejuice,
garlic, chilies, dried prawns, raw crab or salted fish. When the fruit is
ripe, it turns yellow or orange. Cut the fruit open with a knife, scrape out
the seeds and then scoop out the mellow tasting fruit.

Mango (Mamuang)

Season:
Peak January to May

In season price range:
40-80 baht per kilo

Thai mangos are among the sweetest in the world. The Thais eat them in a variety
of ways. Some are eaten when they are still green and sour. At this time,
you can eat them with a sugar/salt dip or use them to make sour salads like
som-tam which is normally made from papaya but green mango is an alternative.
When mangos are ripe, they turn to yellow or orange and become very sweet.
Use a knife to peel them or slice the fruit away from the long, flat stone
in the middle. The best mangos are mouthwateringly sweet and melt on the tongue.
Thais like to eat sweet mangos with sticky rice and sweetened coconut milk.

Jack Fruit (Kanoon)

Season:
January to May

In season price range:
30-60 baht per kilo

These big fruits are ugly and smelly. They are the largest tree borne fruit
in the world growing in excess of 30 kilos. Despite their unappealing outer
appearance the fruit inside is crisp, crunchy and fresh tasting. Cut open
the main fruit and inside are a multitude of yellow fruits. Each fruit is
a flattened apple shape containing a single stone. You can buy jack fruits
whole or buy the yellow fruits cut out and ready to eat.

Rambutan (Ngor)

Season:
Only May to September

In season price range:
10-30 baht per kilo

Break into the fruit casing with your fingers and peel it away to reveal
the fruit. A sweet, sticky, white fruit with a single stone in the middle.
Either nibble the fruit off the stone or open it with your fingers and remove
the stone.

Dragon Fruit (Gair-ow Mang Gorn)

Season:
All year round.

In season price range:
30-60 baht per kilo

This spectacular looking fruit is best eaten chilled. Use a knife to cut
the fruit in half lengthways and scoop the fruit out with a spoon. The centre
is a solid mass of white flesh with lots of tiny black seeds. There is a slightly
smaller version of the fruit with red flesh. One of the pleasures of this
fruit is that you can eat the entire centre leaving just the casing. If the
fruit is not fully ripe then it tastes a little bland and disappointing. When
they are fully ripe, they are sweet and flavoursome. Look for fruit with rich
red and pink colours.

Santol (Gratawn)

Season:
May to August

In season price range:
20-40 baht per kilo

This round yellow to green fruit should be peeled with a knife. The fruit
has an outer layer that is firm and slightly sour. The centre is soft and
sweet. You need to suck this sweet centre from the seeds.

Lychee (Linchee)

Season:
Only April to June

In season price range
50-90 baht per kilo

Originally from China, this fruit is now widely grown in northern Thailand.
It is hugely popular worldwide and is exported fresh and tinned. It grows
on trees in loose bunches. The leathery casing is pink to red in colour and
easy to break open. The fruit has a single small stone and is sweet and delicious.

Longon (Lam Yai)

Season:
Only June to August

In season price range:
20-50 baht per kilo

This is one of the classic Thai fruits and hugely popular with the locals.
There is even a popular song called ‘Khun Lam Yai’, although in
the lyrics a woman objects to being compared with the fruit. The fruit grows
in bunches like grapes. The brown casing is crisp and easy to break. The creamy
grey fruit is wrapped around a single stone and has a texture and taste similar
to Lychee. As well as eating it fresh, the fruit is also tinned and available
worldwide.

Langsat (Longkorng)

Season:
Only June to October

In season price range:
40-90 baht per kilo

This fruit grows in bunches and from the outside is similar in appearance
to Longons. Break into the leathery casing with your fingers to reveal the
creamy grey flesh which is split into segments. It has a sweet taste with
a sour edge and is very sticky. Some of the segments have seeds which should
not be chewed as they are very bitter.

Rose Apple (Champoo)

Season:
June to September

In season price range:
40-100 baht per kilo

These attractive bell shaped fruits come in shades of red and green. They
are crisp, crunchy and light with a fresh taste. You can eat the whole fruit
but many people prefer to leave the core.

Pomello (Som-oh)

Season:
Peak August to October

In season price range:
30-60 baht per fruit

This large, round, green fruit is similar to grapefruit but it is not as juicy
or sour. Remove the thick peel with a knife and then you can cut out the segments.
The flesh is pink to green, crisp and refreshing to eat.

Custard Apple or Sugar Apple (Noi Nah)

Season:
Peak June to September

In season price range:
30-80 baht per kilo

This fruit is the size of a large apple and covered in green scales. You can
peel it or cut it open with a knife. The fruit inside is white, soft and sweet.
You can pick the seeds out with a spoon or just suck the fruit off the seeds
and spit the seeds back out.

Snake Fruit (Ragam)

Season:
May to August

In season price range:
20-40 baht per kilo

A member of the Salacca family this fruit grows in tight clusters. It is
reddy brown with lots of sharp little spines. Pinch off the tip of the fruit
and then peel from there. There are usually two or three sections of fruit
inside. The fruit is firm rather than juicy. There is not a lot of flesh as
each section contains a sizeable stone in the middle. Nibble the light brown
flesh from the stone. A distinctive smoky flavour with a tangy aftertaste.

Sala (Sala)

Season:
May to August

In season price range:
30-60 baht per kilo

Like the Snake Fruit, the Sala is also a member of the Salacca family. It
is very similar to the snake fruit in both appearance and taste. It is longer
and thinner and grows in a more open bunch. It has more flesh than the snake
fruit and is therefore held in higher regard.

Mafai (Burmese Grape)

Season:
May to August

In season price range:
60-100 baht per kilo

These are not such a common sight around the markets but they can be found often enough. They are a tree borne fruit that grows in evergreen forests across much of Asia. The fruit comes in bunches and each fruit is a small oval with a leathery casing. Inside are two or three segments of pinkish to purple fruit with a small stone inside. They have a sour taste and a tongue drying tannin effect.